The sector continued to contract in 2025 as at least 15 campuses closed and a dozen institutions merged or were acquired, driven by enrollment declines and fragile tuition‑dependent finances. Recent moves include Augustana College's planned acquisition of Trinity College of Nursing and Health Sciences and a proposed merger between Pacific University and Willamette University to create a larger private institution. Institutional leaders framed mergers and acquisitions as strategic realignment to safeguard programs, expand professional offerings and stabilize clinical partnerships in fields like nursing. Accreditors and state regulators will review deals, and campuses are prioritizing transitions that preserve clinical pipelines and workforce connections. The consolidation wave is reshaping regional access, program footprints and staffing decisions; higher-ed leaders must balance cost efficiencies with commitments to students, faculty and community partners.